The US has ended "duration of status" for international students. Under a final rule the Department of Homeland Security published in the Federal Register on 17 July 2026, F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and I-visa media representatives no longer get an open-ended stay tied to "as long as you're enrolled and making normal progress." Instead, everyone gets a fixed end date, capped at four years — and the rule doesn't just apply to people applying from now on. It applies to students already in the country too.
The rule takes effect 15 September 2026. Here's what actually changes, and what to do before then if you're an Indian student on an F-1 visa — or planning to be.
What's Actually Changing
Since 1991, F-1 students have been admitted for duration of status (D/S) — no fixed expiry date on their I-94, just an open-ended stay tied to staying enrolled and making normal academic progress. That system is gone. Under the final rule published by DHS, F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants instead get an "Admit Until Date": the Program End Date listed on their Form I-20 (or DS-2019 for J-1 visitors), capped at a maximum of four years, plus a 30-day window to arrive or depart. Need more time to finish your degree? You now have to file an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS — a federal filing that wasn't necessary under the old system.
I-visa holders (foreign media representatives) get a fixed admission period of up to 240 days instead.
If You're Already in the US on F-1 or J-1
This is the detail buried under most of the coverage: the rule isn't only for new arrivals. If you're already in the US in duration of status when the rule takes effect, you don't keep the old open-ended system indefinitely. You can stay through your current Program End Date — but not beyond four years from the rule's effective date, whichever comes first. For most current students, that outer limit lands around 14 November 2030.
Miss that date without filing an Extension of Stay, and you start accruing unlawful presence — exactly what D/S was designed to prevent. The official SEVP quick-facts page is the most current source for the transition provisions that apply to your specific situation.
The Grace Period Got Shorter Too
The window to wrap up your affairs after finishing a program — transfer schools, change status, or leave the country — has been cut from 60 days to 30 days. Combined with the fixed end date, that's noticeably less runway to sort out what's next after graduation or after OPT ends.
The New Limit on Changing Majors
One more change that hasn't gotten much attention: undergraduate-level F-1 students cannot change their major or program of study during their first academic year, except where SEVP grants an exception for extenuating circumstances. If you're arriving for a US undergraduate degree this fall and still deciding between programs, that decision now needs to be closer to final before you land.
None of this is optional or something a university can waive. It's a federal rule enforced through SEVIS. Whatever your situation, your school's international student office (DSO) is the first call, not a travel agent or visa consultant.
What To Do Before September 15
Already on F-1 or J-1 status in the US: check the Program End Date on your I-20 or DS-2019 against the four-year cap, and talk to your DSO before September 15 about whether you'll need an Extension of Stay. Applying to study in the US starting this fall: expect your I-94 to carry a fixed expiry date from day one, budget for the shorter 30-day grace period at the end of your program, and firm up your choice of major before you arrive if you're heading into an undergraduate degree.
FAQ
What is "duration of status" and why did it end?
Duration of status (D/S) let F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors stay in the US for as long as they remained enrolled full-time and made normal academic progress, with no fixed expiry date on their I-94. DHS's 17 July 2026 final rule ends this, citing oversight and national security concerns, and replaces it with a fixed admission period.
When does the new rule take effect?
15 September 2026 — 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Does this affect students already in the US?
Yes. Current F-1/J-1 students in duration of status can stay through their Program End Date, but not beyond four years from the rule's effective date (around 14 November 2030), whichever is sooner, without filing an Extension of Stay.
How long is the new grace period after finishing a program?
30 days, down from 60 days previously.